The establishment of the Nanyang Governor's Office marked that the Chu Empire's expansion in Southeast Asia had entered a new stage.
The direct expansion of the Chu Empire in the Nanyang region also brought visible benefits!
Relying on the Da Chu Empire's several overseas colonies, and more importantly, after comprehensively opening up the markets of the north and south of the Annan Kingdom, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Kingdom of Siam, and the Kingdom of Myanmar, various products of the Da Chu Empire poured in almost like a tide. The entire Southeast Asian peninsula.
In this process, even the loose alliance of kingdoms, namely the Nanzhang Kingdom, was no exception. The Dachu Empire took advantage of the loose internal structure of the Nanzhang Kingdom and the three major internal forces competing for power and profit, and used the provision of ordnance and financial support as an excuse to Gradually, the power penetrated into the Nanzhang Kingdom and signed a friendly trade and cooperation agreement.
On the surface, this trade agreement is very fair, that is, both sides will open up the market, lower tax rates, and everyone can do business and make money together.
But what products can the Nanzhang Kingdom import to the Chu Empire? They are nothing more than some local specialties and industrial raw materials, and the total amount is still small.
But what did the Chu Empire import to the Nanzhang Kingdom?
It mainly focuses on various industrial products, especially highly competitive industrial products such as weapons and equipment, civilian iron products, and cloth. In addition, traditional silk and porcelain are also traditional input products.
This trade model is the most desirable trade model for the Chu Empire.
In fact, the trade agreements signed between the Chu Empire and the Kingdom of Annan and the Kingdom of Burma were similar. At least on the surface, they were very fair and followed the liberalization of markets between the two parties.
But the problem is... the Chu Empire is a goods exporter, and it is also an exporter of industrial products.
There are not many products that these indigenous countries can provide to the Chu Empire, and some of them are very cheap.
The Dachu Empire imported industrial raw materials and even cheap bulk goods such as grain and wood from them, and then sold them high value-added industrial products and even luxury goods.
During this process, a large amount of wealth flowed into the Chu Empire, providing sufficient fuel for the industrial development of the Chu Empire.
This is the international trade model Luo Zhixue wants.
As for controlling shipping routes to pursue profits from trade itself like Western colonists, to be honest Luo Zhixue doesn't even look down on it...
This can be seen from the fact that several overseas colonies controlled by the Dachu Empire and even several trading ports such as Guangzhou are open to welcome merchant ships from various countries to trade.
As long as a large amount of industrial products can be exported and then sold to the indigenous people, the empire does not care who transports these goods.
The Dutch feel this very deeply!
In recent years, especially the past two years, the Chu Empire has expanded aggressively in Southeast Asia, and has barely concealed its ambition to control the Strait of Malacca.
According to this, the Dutch have actually suffered a loss of profits.
But in fact this is not the case... The Da Chu Empire has expanded overseas and has forcefully opened up the market in most parts of Southeast Asia, forcing local forces to boycott the goods of the Da Chu Empire.
Under such circumstances, the Dutch found that they could still earn more...
They purchased all kinds of goods from the Chu Empire from Guangzhou, Songjiang, Quanzhou, Ningbo and other trading ports, and then transported them to various parts of Southeast Asia for sale. Without the obstruction of local indigenous official forces, the goods were almost useless. Worry about sales.
After all, in addition to various luxury goods represented by silk, the goods of the Dachu Empire have always been famous for being cheap and beautiful.
Taking the most popular and popular cloth as an example, the price of cloth from the Chu Empire in Southeast Asia is at least 30% lower than that of Indian cloth, and the quality is even higher.
The quality is also better than the local homespun cloth in Southeast Asia, and the price is also more competitive.
Relying on high quality and low price, the cotton cloth exported by the Da Chu Empire has almost no competitors in the national trade, even if shipping costs are included.
The selling price of cotton cloth in the Da Chu Empire in Southeast Asia has actually been raised... Although the cost of cotton cloth in the Da Chu Empire is very low and there is still huge room for price reduction, but since there are no competitors in Southeast Asia, It would be ridiculous to foolishly lower the price.
If we really want to continue to cut prices, the price of cotton from the Dachu Empire can be reduced by at least half on this basis... But that's not necessary.
The trading companies that sell various goods produced by the Chu Empire are not only the trading companies of the Chu Empire, but also the Dutch, Portuguese, Spanish and even indigenous merchant ships from various Southeast Asian countries.
Although there were more people participating, the profits on each route were no longer huge, but profits could still be guaranteed to a certain extent, and when the volume increased, the Dutch East India Company eventually found that it made even more.
Even though the competition in the Southeast Asian market is fierce, there is still a huge Indian peninsula market and the more distant West Asian market.
In these places, the goods of the Dachu Empire are still extremely competitive.
It is a pity that some local dignitaries have begun to boycott the goods of the Da Chu Empire...
After a large number of cheap industrial products from the Dachu Empire poured into the local market, the merchants involved certainly made money, but they also dealt a fatal blow to their local counterparts.
Let's take cotton cloth as an example... The Indian peninsula was originally a major producer of cotton cloth. Many local kingdoms made money by selling cotton cloth to the Dutch or other colonists.
Then the merchant ships of the Dutch and other Western colonists would transport these cotton cloths to Southeast Asia for sale.
But now, not only the export market in Southeast Asia is gone, but also their local market is almost unsustainable...
The price is really unbeatable, and the quality is also unbeatable... Apart from waiting to die, the only option is to use administrative methods to resist the entry of cotton from the Da Chu Empire into the local market.
This made the Dutch and other Western colonists very dissatisfied. Although these cloths were produced by the Dachu Empire, it was not just the merchants of the Dachu Empire who transported the cloths to buy them. Although the Nanyang Trading Company had already tried to run away, Several Indian routes.
However, the main importers of the Chu Empire's goods to the Indian peninsula market were several East India companies from Western countries, of which the Dutch East India Company was the main force, as well as the Portuguese East India Company, the English East India Company, and the Danish East India Company.
Nowadays, the Indian Peninsula and West Asia continue to boycott the goods of the Chu Empire, which is tantamount to boycotting them... This makes them uncomfortable.
Nowadays, these colonial countries in the West, facing the external expansion of the Chu Empire, can be said to be suffering and happy at the same time.
If you want to say you suffered a loss, you made more money.
You have to say that you have benefited from it, but your influence and sphere of influence in Southeast Asia have been greatly reduced.
This is very contradictory!
On the other hand, the Spaniards are not very involved in trade in Southeast Asia and even India. The main reason is that the Spaniards have no colonies in the Indian Peninsula. Spain's colonies are mainly concentrated in the Americas. In Asia, they have only established one colony in Luzon, and in other areas. The place is blank.
The Spaniards established a colony in Luzon not for Southeast Asia or anything else, but purely for trade with the Chinese Empire.
The trade with the Chinese region is part of the Spanish global treasure ship fleet. Without the participation of the Chinese region, the Spanish global treasure ship would be a joke...
The Spanish's trade was to transport various precious metals or other materials from the Americas to Luzon, trade with the Chu Empire, purchase silk, porcelain and other valuable goods from the Chu Empire, and purchase some spices. If there were not enough spices, they would be controlled by the Dutch. , it was more difficult for the Spaniards to get involved, so the acquisition volume was relatively small, and they mainly traded with the Chu Empire.
After completing the trade with the Chu Empire, the Spanish's huge fleet would sail directly into the Indian Ocean and return to Europe via the Cape of Good Hope.
This kind of large-scale global trade has basically had to deal with the Chu Empire every year in the past ten years, and every time it was huge, the Spaniards would dispatch a dozen or more Galenic ships at one go, They are all large Galenic ships of one to two thousand tons, and they will also be escorted by battleship-level warships.
Without any strength, all countries have long robbed him...
You know, their annual trade with the Chu Empire alone, and the goods purchased from the Chu Empire alone are worth millions of Chu Yuan. This does not have strong strength to escort, let alone pirates, the navies of various countries along the way are I can't help but grab it directly.
The Dachu Empire obtained a huge amount of gold and silver from them. In addition, it also obtained a large number of crop seeds from the Americas from the Spanish, such as corn, sweet potatoes, rubber trees, and more importantly, cinchona trees.
Not to mention anything else, the cinchona tree alone was worth the peaceful trade between the Chu Empire and the Spaniards, without causing trouble for Luzon under their control.
The cinchona tree is a small tree native to South America. What is it used for? The miracle drug for treating malaria... After Western colonists discovered that this thing could treat malaria, it was the only drug available for humans to treat malaria for a long time.
Not to mention the quinine extracted from the cinchona tree. Even in the 20th century, this stuff was the most effective anti-malarial drug, with countless people alive.
During World War II, quinine, along with aspirin and later penicillin, became one of the most valuable strategic materials.
At first, this thing was only used by some local indigenous people in South America. It was not until a Spanish noble discovered the effect of this thing in treating malaria that the Spanish began to pay attention to this thing and once wanted to establish a monopoly trade.
However, because time is relatively short, it only takes a few years, so there is no ban yet. The Dachu Empire directly opens the way with money... The official channel cannot be opened, but there will always be captains and sailors who want money rather than their lives to use this thing. The seeds are brought out and sold to Dachu people.
Nowadays, the Great Chu Empire has widely cultivated and planted this tree in places suitable for the growth of cinchona trees in various parts of the south.
This thing is very useful for overseas colonization, especially for the expansion of the Chu Empire in Southeast Asia.
When expanding in Southeast Asia, whether it is colonization or business, the biggest danger is not the indigenous people, but the ubiquitous diseases.
Among these diseases, malaria is the number one killer!
The cinchona tree is the best drug for treating malaria, at least at this stage.
Therefore, it is common sense that the Chu Empire attaches great importance to the cinchona tree. Luo Zhixue did not even need to give orders for this thing. After the officials below heard that such a good thing existed in the Americas, they directly brought the seeds.
In fact, it was only when officials obtained the seeds and planned to plant them on a large scale that Luo Zhixue learned about it...
It's not that he doesn't know about this stuff... it's just that he didn't pay attention to it before. He was too busy with many things every day. He even only inspected the steam engine project, which is the most important item in the country.
Other little things, he really couldn't remember them for a while unless others mentioned them.
There are many similar situations.
But this impact is not big. What Luo Zhixue brought to the Chu Empire was not some knowledge from later generations... In fact, many things are known. If there are not a large number of technical personnel to continue to specialize in research, it doesn't matter if they know some messy theoretical knowledge. use.
What Luo Zhixue brought to the Chu Empire was more of a change in atmosphere.
In particular, it gives a new understanding to the powerful class, and even to the entire scholar class, that they want to be an official and want to do business and make a fortune.
It’s not enough to learn eight-legged essay, you have to learn mathematics, physics and chemistry!
These changes in concepts are far more important than Luo Zhixue personally teaching a bunch of so-called students.
People are all like this. They will only study and specialize when they think it will be profitable.
And when there are more people thinking about mathematics, physics and chemistry, scientific researchers can be produced. With more scientific researchers, the advancement of various technologies, especially basic science and technology, can be put on the agenda.
The progress of science and technology cannot be achieved by Luo Zhixue alone. It requires the joint efforts of a large number of researchers.
Just like the steam engine project... Just rely on Luo Zhixue, think about it for a long time, and rely on Luo Zhixue's 'common sense' level design ability, he can also draw out the design drawings for you.
But if he wanted to create it, he was powerless...
To make it, you need qualified materials and processing technology.
Materials are difficult to come up with. If someone is not a professional and has memorized the formula clearly, he or she can only conduct experiments over and over again to find materials with qualified performance.
Experiments require money and personnel.
Money can solve the problem, but a huge number of basic researchers is not.
At least it can't be done by Luo Zhixue and a few students.
Therefore, from the beginning, Luo Zhixue had no idea of becoming a scientist and inventing and creating... What he wanted to do was to establish a good social atmosphere for modern scientific learning, research and application.
The rest can be left to the more than 100 million citizens of the Chu Empire.
With so many people and the large-scale promotion of basic education, a bunch of geniuses will always emerge to engage in scientific research. Among a group of ordinary geniuses, there will always be a few top geniuses who will directly drive the development and progress of basic science in the Great Chu Empire. of.
To this end, Luo Zhixue did not hesitate to reform education and imperial examinations, directly changing the subjects people studied from the source, and forcibly promoted mathematics, physics and chemistry in a completely unreasonable and even barbaric way.
What’s even more interesting is… the effect is amazing!
And there has not been much opposition from people. Even some old diehards are repulsive to mathematics, physics, and chemistry and clamor to read only the books of sages. However, these diehards will still send their children to new schools to learn mathematics, physics, and chemistry...
If nothing else, you can take the imperial examination only after you have studied mathematics, physics and chemistry, and you can become an official only after you take the imperial examination.
Not to mention being an official, even if you are not an official, if you want to live well outside, you still need a decent education. If you don't study mathematics, physics and chemistry, you will be illiterate, let alone obtain a degree.
Luo Zhixue was very suspicious. If one day he said that only eunuchs could be officials, millions of extra eunuchs would probably appear overnight...
This fully proves that it is not important what you learn, but what is important is what you learn to make your life better.
In the past, it was enough to just learn eight-legged essay.
Nowadays, we still need to learn the eight-part essay - well, Shiwen is still the highlight of the imperial examination, just like Chinese in the college entrance examination in later generations, it is still an Oita subject.
How should I put it, reading, reading and writing articles are basic skills... You can't even read and write official documents, and you are still in the officialdom!
But mathematics, physics and chemistry cannot be left behind. If you don't even understand some basic scientific knowledge, you are a fool who can only write articles. If you are an official, you will harm others and yourself.
In other words, the Dachu Empire’s selection criteria for officials are: compound talents who can write good articles and understand mathematics, physics and chemistry!
This also made the studies of the students of the Great Chu Empire become more and more arduous.
Young students in many schools basically memorize the Four Books and Five Classics in the morning, study mathematics in the morning, physics and chemistry in the afternoon, and study various questions in the evening...
And they compete one by one. You stay up all night to read, and I will stay up all night to study the questions... You walk and read, and I shit and memorize mathematical formulas.
"The Sword Comes"
Chinese students have always been very good-looking!
As time goes by, a group of talents proficient in mathematics, physics and chemistry naturally appeared in the society of the Chu Empire. With these talents, the research and development of scientific basics will naturally come up.
This is also the reason why the Great Chu Empire has continuously achieved relatively large breakthroughs in basic scientific research in the past two years, and has also achieved continuous breakthroughs in industrial development, with the emergence of various new industrial products.
In the early years, the new education in the Chu Empire was in the basic stage, and the so-called industry was limited to the national defense industry and cotton spinning industry.
Moreover, the industrial development at that time mainly relied on craftsmen trained by traditional methods and a small number of talents who were exposed to Western disciplines.
The talents cultivated in large numbers by the Chu Empire itself only gradually appeared in large numbers after the country was unified.
After all, learning requires a process, and the fission of talents also requires a process.
Luo Zhixue is very pleased to have been able to produce so many scientific research talents in more than ten years.
It was not in vain that he wanted to get ahead, so he just studied mathematics, physics and chemistry for so many years.
